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Michael Jackson's Duet Partner Siedah Garrett Talks 'Bad25'
November 21, 2012 1:30 PM EST There's a moment in Spike Lee's new Michael Jackson documentary "Bad25" that Siedah Garrett - co-writer of "Man in the Mirror" and the late Jackson's duet partner on "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" - ...
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The Beat 10/24: Black Keys Top Hot Tours, Beyonce & Jay-Z Can't Trademark 'Blue Ivy'
October 24, 2012 5:25 PM EDT Welcome to the Wednesday, October 24 edition of "The Beat," Billboard.com's daily music news show, featuring host Jonathan Brooks running down the latest music news -- who's making headlines and who's topping the charts. In ...
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Spike Lee Debuts Michael Jackson Documentary 'BAD25' Trailer: Watch
October 18, 2012 5:15 PM EDT On Thanksgiving, fans will get a peek into the making of one of Michael Jackson 's classic albums, "Bad." In celebration of the full-length's 25th anniversary, ABC will premiere Spike Lee's documentary, "Michael Jackson ...
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Virile Videos Rely On Music For Hits
August 24, 2012 8:00 AM EDT Films' music-focused promotional clips are proving just as powerful online as they were on MTV decades ago. After years of lackluster efforts in using music to generate lines at the box office, film studios are starting to wake up again to th ...
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How Beats By Dre Got Their Headphones On Olympians' Ears (Despite Violating IOC Policy)
July 31, 2012 4:30 PM EDT In just a matter of days, Beats By Dre headphones have become one of the most visible - and controversial - brands at the 2012 Summer Olympic Games. Athletes like British tennis player Laura Robson and soccer player Jack Butland tweeted their love ...
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Spike Lee Prepping Michael Jackson 'Bad' Documentary
July 10, 2012 8:00 PM EDT Spike Lee worked with Michael Jackson and considered him a friend, but the director says even he learned a lot combing through footage of the icon for a planned documentary about the singer's "Bad" album. Lee calls it a "treasure ...
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Spike Lee Preparing Michael Jackson Documentary to Coincide With 'Bad' 25th Anniversary
July 10, 2012 2:02 PM EDT NEW YORK (AP) -- Spike Lee worked with Michael Jackson and considered him a friend, but the director says even he learned a lot combing through footage of the icon for a planned documentary about the singer's Bad album. Lee calls it a "t ...
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Backbeat: BET Host Music Matters Showcase With Leah Labelle, Stevie Wonder, Rob Light, More
July 05, 2012 12:56 PM EDT (L-R): BET's Kelly Griffin, LaToya Jackson, BET's Stephen Hill, Katherine Jackson and Rebbie Jackson. (Photo: Mark Davis/Getty Images/BET Networks) BET Awards 2012 is now part of television history. However, music still matters at BET as ...
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BET Awards 2012: Whitney Houston Tribute Marks Emotional High
July 02, 2012 8:00 AM EDT With all the star power at the BET Awards - Kanye West, Jay-Z, Nicki Minaj, Beyonce and Samuel L. Jackson, to name a few - the most stirring moment came not from a superstar, but from the mother of one. Whitney Houston's mother Cissy provided t ...
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Kanye, Jay-Z Win Top BET Award, Cissy Houston Honors Daughter Whitney (Video)
July 02, 2012 12:28 AM EDT Cissy Houston's tribute to her late daughter was the emotional highlight of Sunday's BET Awards, a show that was defined by extended bleeps and the vulgarities that censors failed to catch onstage throughout the night. Whitney Houston� ...
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Vevo's Rio Caraeff Talks Upfronts, Royalties, Growth, and Says: 'We Have No Intention To Leave YouTube'
April 24, 2012 12:18 PM EDT It's a transitional time for Vevo, as the No. 1 most-watched YouTube channel (and No. 3 most-watched U.S. video platform on the web, according to Comscore) prepares to host its first upfront event for advertisers and agencies in New York on W ...
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Backbeat: Hill Country Hosts Chip Taylor Who Says 'F**k All The Perfect People'
March 23, 2012 1:04 PM EDT Chip Taylor, right, poses with Hill Country Live director Lincoln Schofield at Taylor's performance Thursday night. (Photo: Thom Duffy) At Hill Country Barbeque Market , the down-home eatery, and the showcase club Hill Country Live, in Manhat ...
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Darren Aronofsky to Direct Lou Reed, Metallica Video
November 03, 2011 7:40 PM EDT Award-winning director Darren Aronofsky will direct a music video from the new Metallica and Lou Reed album, "Lulu." Best-known for his Oscar-nominated films "Black Swan" and "The Wrestler," Aronofsky will produce a vid ...
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Duran Duran Taps David Lynch to Direct 'Unstaged' Live Streamed Concert
March 14, 2011 10:00 AM EDT The members of Duran Duran aren't expecting dancing dwarves and talking rabbits to be part of their upcoming David Lynch -directed episode of American Express' "Unstaged" concert series. But they won't mind if they are -- or ...
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Rihanna Rocks NBA All-Star Game with Kanye West, Drake
February 21, 2011 9:14 AM EST With a celebrity-studded crowd looking on, Rihanna rocked the halftime show at the NBA All-Star game on her 23rd birthday. She had other big names helping her sing her hits Sunday, with Drake joining in on "What's My Name?" and workin ...
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Blake Griffin Slam Dunks Over Car to R. Kelly's 'Fly'
February 20, 2011 12:57 PM EST If you missed the NBA's 2011 Slam Dunk Contest Saturday night (Feb. 19), then you missed All-Star rookie and Blake Griffin dukning over a car (a Kia, for all you product placement-watchdogs out there), to the sounds of a gospel choir singing R. ...
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BACKBEAT: John Legend, The Roots' ?uestlove and Spike Lee At Billboard Live! Panel During 2010 Advertising Week
September 28, 2010 12:00 AM EDT Advertising Week 2010 Kicked off in NYC on September 27 and Billboard was there to present Billboard Live! which hosted Ahmir “?uestlove” Thompson from the Roots, John Legend , director Spike Lee , American Express’ Courtney Kelso and Momentum’s J ...
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Spike Lee to Direct John Legend, the Roots Live Webcast
September 14, 2010 2:10 PM EDT Spike Lee will direct a live webcast of a concert featuring John Legend and the Roots . The concert, to be held in New York on Sept. 23, is the second part of "Unstaged," a live concert series presented by American Express Co. The first wa ...
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POTW: Justin Bieber, Rihanna, Eminem, Kanye, Gwen Stefani
September 03, 2010 3:47 PM EDT Bieber and Usher huddled backstage, Rihanna kissed her wax-self, Kanye watched the US Open, Gwen Stefani froliced on the beach with Zuma, Snoop Dogg and Spike Lee celebrated Michael Jackson, Fergie and Slash raged on-stage, the cast of Glee performe ...
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Billboard Bits: Beyonce Returns To the Studio, Blink-182 Cracks Crude Obama Joke
August 30, 2010 7:15 PM EDT Billboard Bits serves up the best bite-sized nuggets of music news and gossip. Beyonce Returns To Studio with Ne-Yo Beyonce is back in the studio after taking a break from music earlier this year, according to Perez Hilton. The news follows a tweet ...
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Jazz Singer Abbey Lincoln Dies in New York
August 15, 2010 9:29 AM EDT Abbey Lincoln , a jazz singer and songwriter known for her phrasing, emotion and uncompromising style, died Saturday in New York at age 80. She had been declining in health for the past year. Her death was confirmed by friend and filmmaker Carol Fri ...
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"Saving OurSelves" Telethon Brings More Pleas, Help for Haiti
February 06, 2010 8:42 AM EST Nearly a month after a devastating earthquake, shock gave way Friday night to a celebration of Haitian culture and pride. Wyclef Jean opened the "SOS Saving OurSelves - Help for Haiti" concert and telethon with the Haitian Creole phrase fo ...
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Michael Jackson Honored in Spike Lee's "This Is It" Video
December 28, 2009 1:00 PM EST Over the Christmas holiday, director Spike Lee premiered the official video for Michael Jackson 's posthumous single "This Is It," a clip that pays tribute to the life and career of the King of Pop. The moving video mixes images culle ...
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Michael Jackson Remains A Global Phenomenon
July 02, 2009 8:00 PM EDT Michael Jackson went from being Gary, Ind.'s most talented kid to one of the most recognizable human beings on the planet. And while his worldwide album sales were astounding, that wasn't the sole reason for his fame. his ascendancy went f ...
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Sharpton & Spike Lee at Apollo Jackson Tribute
July 01, 2009 10:25 AM EDT Al Sharpton and Spike Lee onstage at the Apollo's Michael Jackson tribute on Tuesday, June 30 in New York. Apollo Theater , al sharpton , Pop , the apollo , Apollo , reverend al sharpton , Michael Jackson , Spike Lee , Michael Jackson Tribute , ...
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Apollo Theater Turns 75 With Gala Concert, Ceremony
May 13, 2009 2:09 PM EDT The Apollo Theater will celebrate its 75th anniversary with a benefit tribute concert and an awards ceremony, among other festivities, on Monday, June 8h beginning at 6:30 p.m., to be held at the historic venue. Hosted by comedian, actor and radio p ...
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Bruce Hornsby Scores Spike Lee's Kobe Bryant Doc
March 18, 2009 12:47 AM EDT After years of successful recording achievements, Bruce Hornsby is taking his work to the silver screen. The singer and songwriter of late-80's hits like "The Way It Is" and "The Valley Road" has composed the score to " ...
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Prince Keeps Charting His Own Course
October 23, 2008 12:00 AM EDT At a recent New York celebration/concert for Prince's new book, late night had turned into early morning, the bar was closing and party organizers were deciding what decorations to pack up first. At a recent New York celebration/concert for Pri ...
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Spike Lee's Ad Agency To Bring Brands to Hip-Hop Site
August 14, 2008 12:00 AM EDT Spike Lee's advertising agency, Omnicom Group's Spike DDB, has partnered with goldmic.com , a hip-hop social networking site, to bring new brands to the five-year old site. The partnership also means that Spike DDB clients, who include P ...
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Nas Reveals 'N*gger' Video, Album Cover
May 30, 2008 12:00 AM EDT Rapper Nas has revealed the video for "Be a N*gger Too," the lead single from his upcoming untitled album, due July 1 via Def Jam. The clip was unveiled for media last night (May 29) at the Tribeca Gr Rapper Nas has revealed the video for ...
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Nokia And Spike Lee Pair On Movie Contest
April 24, 2008 12:00 AM EDT Nokia and director Spike Lee are teaming on a contest for a "social film" - one generated by users with content captured from their mobile phones. The theme of the film is to be on how "music tells the story of humanity." The f ...
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Live Nation, Best Buy Team For Mariah DVD
November 19, 2007 12:00 AM EST Mariah Carey's Live Nation-produced The Adventures of Mimi tour will be chronicled on an upcoming DVD of the same name, which will be a Best Buy exclusive at retail. Mariah Carey's Live Nation-produced The Adventures of Mimi tour will be c ...
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Veteran Go-Go Group E.U. Offers 'The Mixture'
September 08, 2007 12:00 AM EDT Known originally by its full name Experience Unlimited, E.U. was the top Washington, D.C., go-go group and jumped to the national stage after Spike Lee used its song "Da Butt" in his 1988 film "School Daze." Now, 20 years later ...
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Teddy Bear's Return
September 08, 2007 12:00 AM EDT When director Spike Lee picked E.U.'s dance tune "Da Butt" for the soundtrack to his 1988 film "School Daze," the song became a No. 1 hit and a national sensation. Some 20 years later, the anniversary of the film and song ...
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Etheridge, Blanchard Set For Film & TV Conference
October 06, 2006 12:00 AM EDT Singer/songwriter Melissa Etheridge and composer Terence Blanchard are confirmed to participate at the 2006 Hollywood Reporter/Billboard Film & TV Music Conference. Singer/songwriter Melissa Etheridge and composer Terence Blanchard are confirmed ...
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Corey Miller Ordered Into Home Confinement
August 30, 2006 12:00 AM EDT An appearance by Corey Miller at a Hurricane Katrina documentary premiere in New Orleans has led a judge to put the rapper on full home confinement until his second trial on a second-degree murder cha An appearance by Corey Miller at a Hurricane Kat ...
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Hornsby's 'Intersections' Boxed With DVD
April 06, 2006 12:00 AM EDT Bruce Hornsby's career to date will be represented with the four-disc, 53-track boxed set "Intersections," which is due July 25 via RCA/Legacy. A fifth disc comprises a 22-track DVD that rounds up liv Bruce Hornsby's career to da ...
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De La Soul Signs With Sanctuary
July 28, 2004 12:00 AM EDT Veteran rap trio De La Soul has signed a new deal with Sanctuary Urban Records Group, which will on Sept. 28 release its next album, "The Grind Date," in conjunction with the group's own AOI Records. Veteran rap trio De La Soul has si ...
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Jane's Addiction Dusts Off Documentary
September 24, 2003 12:00 AM EDT The Jane's Addiction documentary "Three Days" will finally see North American release on DVD Oct. 7 via Sanctuary, four years after debuting at the Slamdance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. The Jane's Addiction documentary &quo ...
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A Closer Look At Music-Related Television This Week
August 11, 2003 12:00 AM EDT Fine Tuning - Weekly column highlighting music on TV during the week of Aug. 11-17, 2003. Although back-to-school is looming on the horizon, there's still some summer sun and fun left. And, musically speaking, things are pretty hot on televisio ...
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Spike Lee Film Music Takes Center Stage
June 06, 2003 12:00 AM EDT Spike Lee's artistic vision isn't just what he sees, but what he hears: And in a new multimedia show called "The Movie Music of Spike Lee and Terence Blanchard," which makes its first U.S. stop in Phi Spike Lee's artistic vi ...
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DMX Aims To 'Never Die Alone' On Screen
February 13, 2003 12:00 AM EST Hip-hop heavyweight DMX will star in and produce the thriller "Never Die Alone" for director Ernest Dickerson. Based on a 1974 book by cult novelist Donald Goines, "Never" also stars David Arquette an Hip-hop heavyweight DMX will ...
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Pop, Rock, Rap Up For 'Best Song' Golden Globe
December 19, 2002 12:00 AM EST Songs by Madonna, U2, Eminem, Paul Simon, and Hans Zimmer will compete for honors as the best original song from a motion picture at the upcoming 60th annual Golden Globe Awards. The category sees Mad Songs by Madonna, U2, Eminem, Paul Simon, and Ha ...
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Eels Take 'Souljacker' On Tour
February 21, 2002 12:00 AM EST When the Eels hit the road next month in support of their forthcoming DreamWorks album, "Souljacker," touring guitarist John Parish, who produced and co-wrote a handful of songs on the album, won't be When the Eels hit the road next m ...
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Extra Songs Grace 'Concert For NYC' DVD
December 28, 2001 12:00 AM EST Four songs not included on the two-CD version of "The Concert for New York City" will appear on the forthcoming two-DVD home video release of the event. Due Jan. 29 via Columbia, the set will include Four songs not included on the two-CD v ...
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Scorsese, PBS Working On Six-Part Blues Series
November 13, 2001 12:00 AM EST Martin Scorsese is executive-producing "The Blues," a six-part series that will air on PBS in 2003, Billboard Bulletin reports. A source says that unlike recent PBS series such as "Ken Burns Jazz" and Martin Scorsese is executive ...
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Benefit Update: Beasties, NYC, Country Freedom
October 18, 2001 12:00 AM EDT The Beastie Boys have added a second night to their New Yorkers Against Violence benefit concert, to be held Oct. 29 at New York's Hammerstein Ballroom. While the veteran hip-hop trio and Pakistani vo The Beastie Boys have added a second night ...
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Gerald's World
September 22, 2001 12:00 AM EDT This follow-up to last year's G finds Gerald Levert mining the same love-themed territory he has covered on previous albums. This follow-up to last year's G finds Gerald Levert mining the same love-themed territory he has covered on previo ...
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Naughty By Nature Signs With TVT
June 04, 2001 12:00 AM EDT Naughty by Nature's Treach (Anthony Criss) and Vinnie (Vincent Brown) have inked a new recording deal with TVT Records. The two are working on a new Naughty by Nature record, tentatively titled "The R Naughty by Nature's Treach (Antho ...
